Ask Legislators to Vote YES on IR 1545 to ban the sale of puppy mill dogs in Suffolk County

Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper has proposed a bill banning the sale of puppy mill dogs in Suffolk County pet stores. The bill is being co-sponsored by Legislator Edward Romaine. This is an important opportunity to help the victims of this shameful industry: the unfortunate animals living in torturous conditions in puppy mills.

Here is the proposed legislation:

"This Legislature hereby finds and determines that an estimated two millionpuppies are purchased, sold or adopted each year, while 4 to 5 million unwanted dogs die inshelters across America.

This Legislature also finds and determines that the vast majority of puppies soldat retail pet stores come from puppy mills in the Midwest, South and portions of Pennsylvania.

This Legislature determines that the United States Department of Agriculture,which provides minimal regulations on the care of animals that barely meet the animals’subsistence needs, cannot meaningfully enforce their standards, as the Department is so largeand maintains less than 100 inspectors nationwide.

This Legislature finds that puppy mills are large commercial breeding businessesthat breed dogs like livestock and sell their offspring at five to six weeks of age, despite federalregulations banning the sale of puppies less than eight weeks of age. Federal regulations onmany puppy mill practices exist, but are not consistently enforced, due to an insufficient numberof inspectors.

This Legislature further finds and determines that female dogs are bredimmediately upon maturity and in each heat cycle thereafter until they are no longer able toproduce puppies. Once they are unable to produce, the mothers are culled, auctioned to othermills, abandoned or killed.

This Legislature determines that conditions in puppy mills are stark: dogs are

crammed into small, unsanitary wire cages, frequently left in their own excrement, and areunprotected from extreme temperature fluctuations.

This Legislature further determines that dogs languishing in puppy mills arechronically undernourished; are not provided with veterinary care or socialization; and are at anincreased risk for serious health problems, including ailments caused by the harsh livingconditions. In addition, their puppies are at increased risk of genetic defects caused byinbreeding.

This Legislature also finds that puppies from puppy mills frequently exhibit healthproblems which are caused by the harsh conditions and mistreatment of the mother dogs thatoccurs in these mills. These problems can continue even after the puppies leave the horribleconditions at a puppy mill.

This Legislature also determines that the American Kennel Club (“AKC”) focusessolely on the registration of purebred puppies, but does not consider the condition under whichpuppies are born, nor the care and treatment of their parents. The AKC does not verify thatpuppies given their certification were bred by a responsible breeder and not at a puppy mill.

This Legislature also determines that Suffolk County has a responsibility topromote animal welfare.

This Legislature further determines that a restriction on the retail sale of puppiesbred outside of Suffolk County will provide the dual benefits of increasing consumer awarenessof puppy mills and ensure that those puppies which are sold in Suffolk County are either bredlocally or are obtained from shelters or animal rescue organizations.

Therefore, the purpose of this law is to ban the retail sale of puppies frombreeders outside of Suffolk County."

Letter to

Suffolk County LegislatorLynne C. Nowick

Suffolk County LegislatorThomas F. Barraga

Suffolk County LegislatorRicardo Montano

and 15 others

Suffolk County LegislatorJohn M. Kennedy, Jr.

Suffolk County LegislatorJack Eddington

Suffolk County LegislatorWayne R. Horsley

Suffolk County LegislatorDuWayne Gregory

Suffolk County LegislatorJay H. Schneiderman

Suffolk County LegislatorJon Cooper

Suffolk County LegislatorVivian Viloria-Fisher

Suffolk County LegislatorEDWARD P. ROMAINE

Suffolk County LegislatorWILLIAM J. LINDSAY

Suffolk County LegislatorTHOMAS CILMI

Suffolk County LegislatorSTEVEN H. STERN

Suffolk County LegislatorLOU D’AMARO

Suffolk County LegislatorKATE M. BROWNING

Suffolk County LegislatorTHOMAS MURATORE

Suffolk County LegislatorSARAH S. ANKER

Your YES vote on this bill is so important!

Your yes vote will:

- help put an end to the illegal and inhumane practices at puppy mills- help reduce the overpopulation at Suffolk County animal shelters due to these imported and too often discarded animals- give voice to Suffolk County's humane organizations and residents who strongly oppose the practices at puppy mills